Since ’94, hundreds of NBA players have made it to the Top 100 camp. This year’s event is scheduled to be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, June 8-13. But first, to celebrate 30 incredible years, we’re taking a look back at the top 30 members of the NBPA who took the court in the Top 100 camp.
Meet the best 30-21 players here and 20-11 here.
10. Klay Thompson
“Buckets and cold.” The SLAM 215 cover line, featured under an iconic photo of Klay Thomson rocking sunglasses and lounging on a beach chair, pretty much sums it up. Thompson has always been a killer off the court. He won four championships, made five All-Star teams and scored more than 15,500 points with the Golden State Warriors. When Klay (also known as “Game 6 Klay”) had the hot hand, it was a wrap for whoever was on the other side. In 2015, he set an NBA record with 37 points in a quarter.
9. Devin Booker
If we’re talking about clean sweeps, Devin Booker’s name should be mentioned. The dynamic guard from Grand Rapids, MI has developed a complete offensive game. He can attack the basket and finish at the rim; his middle class arsenal is elite. and he is a serious threat from behind the arc. Just go watch his 70-point masterpiece in 2017 or his 59-point gem in 2019 or his 62-point outburst last season. At 27, Book is a 4x All-Star with more room to improve. Rest assured, there are a lot more buckets to come.
8. Derrick Rose
D-Rose graced the cover of SLAM when he was a freshman at Memphis in 2007-08. The line on the cover read: Derrick Rose is the NBA’s next big star.” Truth be told, that prediction could have been made even before the explosive guard was lighting up the court at Simeon’s Career Academy (IL) and landing a Top 100 camp. In 2011, at the age of 22, Rose became the youngest MVP in NBA history. His career was fraught with adversity due to numerous injuries, but the 3x All-Star persevered through it all to leave a huge mark on the game.
7. Anthony Davis
From Anglesey Charter (IL) to the University of Kentucky and the NBA, Anthony Davis has more than lived up to the hype. It all started when the kid from Chicago took a big step up in high school, maintaining his guard skills while adjusting to the big man’s new frame. Davis went on to win the Naismith Award, the Wooden Award and an NCAA championship in his only season at Kentucky before being drafted with the first overall pick out of New Orleans. He’s been hampered by injuries during his 12 years in the league, but Davis has still accomplished what’s possible at the highest level, including earning a ring in 2020.
6. Kyrie Irving
Arguably the greatest catcher of all time, he attended the Top 100 camp when he was a high school sensation in New Jersey. Irving spent one year at Duke before entering the 2011 NBA Draft, where he was selected first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was an eight-time All-Star and in 2016 scored one of the greatest shots in NBA history, helping the Cavs complete their epic 3-1 comeback to win the title. With that shot and countless ankle breakers, stunning layups and cool game-winners, Irving’s highlight reel is one to watch. Truly, it is a work of basketball genius.
5. Dwight Howard
Not too long ago, when the role of center was viewed very differently, Dwight Howard was perhaps the most powerful and unstoppable force in basketball. Howard, a young superstar at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy (GA), was named the Gatorade Player of the Year before being selected as the first overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. After leaving Orlando in 2012, he made quite a splash, making many forget what he did in his early years in the league, including making five straight All-NBA first team appearances and winning three straight Defensive Player of the Year awards. Consider this your reminder.
4. James Harden
From Artesia High School in Lakewood, California, where he won two state championships and was a McDonald’s All-American in 2007, James Harden has built an incredible career that is often overlooked. This is a guy who averaged 31.7 points, 8.5 assists and 6.6 rebounds (!) over five seasons from 2015-20, which included an MVP award in 2018. He was ranked 75th in the NBA.th Jubilee team in 2021, and deservedly so.
3. Kevin Durant
Coming out of the DMV, Kevin Durant was one of the nation’s hottest prospects. And since then, well, he hasn’t disappointed. The future Hall of Famer said he likely would have gone straight out of high school to the NBA if it weren’t for the one-and-done rule. Instead, he played one season in Texas before being drafted second overall in 2007 by the Seattle SuperSonics. When he does, which for the past 17 years has been a a lot a common occurrence. there is literally nothing anyone can do to stop him.
2. Stephen Curry
A sleeper prospect from Charlotte Christian School, Stephen Curry attended a Top 100 camp before heading to Davidson, where he became a 2-time consensus All-American and led the Wildcats to the 2008 championship. Elite eight. The lanky, small-faced kid from North Carolina was still somewhat of a sleeper, going seventh overall in the 2009 NBA draft. But even those who predicted Curry’s greatness could not have predicted this; 10x All-Star and NBA All-Star, 2x MVP, 4x Champion and all-time leader in three-pointers. Oh yeah, and he completely changed the way the game was played.
1. Kobe Bryant
It was clear when he dominated at Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania that Kobe Bean Bryant was special. He was one of the first future stars to attend a Top 100 camp, jumping straight to the NBA in 1996. It wasn’t long before he was dominating at that level, too. The resume is undeniable: 18x All-Star, 15x All-NBA, 12x All-Defense, 5x NBA Champion, 2x Finals MVP, 2008 MVP, the list goes on, but Bryant was most defined by his relentless work ethic, remarkable determination. absurd competitiveness. The Mamba Mindset, as his approach to the game and other endeavors came to be known, continues to inspire people everywhere.
